Abstract: An improved process for producing 1,5-pentamethylene diisocyanate (PDI) from a cadaverine salt is described herein. The process generally comprises providing a solution comprising a cadaverine salt dissolved in an inert solvent in the presence of a tertiary amine base; and subjecting the solution to a liquid-phase phosgenation reaction to convert the cadaverine to PDI. The phosgenation reaction comprises a step of maintaining the reaction at temperatures between 100° C. and 120° C. for a sufficient time to achieve a desired threshold yield of PDI. The processes described herein enable reductions in the amounts of reactants consumed, reaction temperatures, and/or overall reaction time, as compared to conventional phosgenation reactions. Employing a bio-based cadaverine salt that was not previously subjected to distillation is found to be advantageous, since subjecting cadaverine to high temperatures leads to the formation of certain cyclic compounds that are carried over to the PDI produced.

Abstract: Improved processes for producing bio-based nylon precursors having reduced organic and inorganic impurities are described herein. The processes generally comprise fermenting a microorganism engineered to produce lysine in a modified culture medium having low or reduced inorganic ion content, such as by employing a culture medium having an ammonium dicarboxylate buffering system that is preferably devoid of non-essential inorganic ions, and crystallizing the lysine directly from the spent lysine fermentation supernatant by adding a sufficient amount of a dicarboxylic acid. Such strategies aim to produce lysine dicarboxylate salt crystals that are employable in a downstream bioconversion step for the production of cadaverine dicarboxylate salts having reduced organic and inorganic impurities, which improve their downstream performance, for example in polymeration reactions for polyamide synthesis.

Abstract: Provided is a method for resolving an optical isomer from a racemate by using supercritical fluid extraction technology. The method is mainly applied to the separation of a product obtained after enzymatic resolution. Taking a preparation process of D-pantolactone as an example, the key point is to separate D-pantolactone and L-pantolactone from an enzymatic resolution liquid by means of supercritical fluid extraction.

Abstract: Provided is a method for preparing ?-alanine, the method comprising: preparing a ?-alanine product from a reactant containing fumaric acid and aqueous ammonia in the presence of a catalyst, wherein the catalyst contains a catalyst composition containing aspartase and L-aspartic acid-?-decarboxylase, and adding fumaric acid during the reaction, wherein the total moles of the fumaric acid added is equal to the initial moles of the aqueous ammonia in the reactant minus the initial moles of the fumaric acid in the reactant. Also provided are methods for preparing a ?-alanine salt (in particular calcium ?-alanine, sodium ?-alanine, and potassium ?-alanine) and a pantothenate (in particular calcium pantothenate, sodium pantothenate, and potassium pantothenate).

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for resolving an optical isomer from a racemate by means of electrodialysis. Specifically, an electrodialysis technique is used in an enzymatic resolution process, mainly in the separation of products after enzymatic resolution. Taking a preparation process for D-pantolactone as an example, the key point is that D-pantoic acid and L-pantolactone are separated from an enzymatic resolution solution by means of an electrodialysis method, which replaces the existing organic solvent extraction method. The process method is simple and easy to operate, has a high yield of D-pantoic acid of a good purity, greatly reduces the usage amount of an organic solvent, reduces production costs and is environmentally friendly, such that the working environment of workers can be improved to a great extent, and the operation safety index is improved.

Abstract: The present invention is based on the discovery of a unique 14-gene molecular prognostic signature that is useful for predicting breast cancer metastasis. In particular, the present invention relates to methods and reagents for detecting and profiling the expression levels of these genes, and methods of using the expression level information in predicting risk of breast cancer metastasis.

Abstract: A thermally assisted magnetic head including a main magnetic pole layer having a magnetic pole end face arranged in a medium-opposing surface, a near-field transducer which generates a near-field light for heating the magnetic recording medium, a waveguide guiding light to the near-field transducer; and an optical side shield being arranged in the medium-opposing surface side of the waveguide and being formed so as to sandwich a part of the near-field transducer, in the medium-opposing surface side, from both sides of a direction along the medium-opposing surface. The near-field transducer includes a protruding end-part (PEG). Then the protruding end-part is arranged to have a PEG end-surface at a position receded from the medium-opposing surface.

Abstract: An automated airfield ground lighting inspection system and method is disclosed. An image acquisition means captures image streams of the airfield ground lighting system lights when moved across an airfield. A location sensor detects positional information for the image acquisition means when capturing the plurality of images comprising the image streams. An image processor coupled to the image acquisition means and the location sensor processes the image stream of a light of the airfield ground lighting system by: (a) associating characteristics of a plurality of points in an image with an item in the light to be checked, and using this association for extraction of the points; (b) verifying each extracted point; and (c) determining the state of the light of the image stream by processing the verified extracted points comprising an item to be checked.

Abstract: Embodiments related to systems and methods, including computer program products, for executing web-based applications. A set of applications are executed using a web browser, wherein each application is associated with a content source, the content source comprising a local content source running locally on the system, a remote content source running remotely from the system, or both. A plurality of tiles are displayed using the web browser, wherein each tile is associated with an application from the set of applications, and each tile displays content from the content source of the associated application.

Abstract: The description relates to, inter alia, recombinant microorganisms, engineered metabolic pathways, chemical catalysts, and products produced through the use of the described methods and materials. The products produced include methylenemalonic acid and intermediates, as well as their salts and esters.

Abstract: An automated airfield ground lighting inspection system and method is disclosed. An image acquisition means captures image streams of the airfield ground lighting system lights when moved across an airfield. A location sensor detects positional information for the image acquisition means when capturing the plurality of images comprising the image streams. An image processor coupled to the image acquisition means and the location sensor processes the image stream of a light of the airfield ground lighting system by: (a) associating characteristics of a plurality of points in an image with an item in the light to be checked, and using this association for extraction of the points; (b) verifying each extracted point ; and (c) determining the state of the light of the image stream by processing the verified extracted points comprising an item to be checked.

Abstract: The present invention is based on the discovery of a unique 14-gene molecular prognostic signature that is useful for predicting breast cancer metastasis. In particular, the present invention relates to methods and reagents for detecting and profiling the expression levels of these genes, and methods of using the expression level information in predicting risk of breast cancer metastasis.

Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for reformatting and delivering emails as conversations. The computer-implemented method includes: synchronizing with an email service and receiving an email message via a data network; parsing content of the received email message to identify and suppress email content not related to conversational content and retaining the conversational content; reformatting the received email message to include the conversational content in a chat style format as an expressive conversation; making the expressive conversation available to a client email application; and presenting the expressive conversation to a user via the client email application.

Abstract: The invention includes a method and system to visually capture, enhance, broadcast, annotate, index and store information written or drawn on physical surfaces. A user points a camera at a whiteboard and broadcasts the video stream so that other users can easily receive and collaborate remotely in multi-user fashion. The system enhances the video by leveraging the nature of video as a multitude of related frames over time and by leveraging the nature of writing, and/or the nature of the written surface in the video stream. Annotation tools, and real-time data sharing such as mouse-location facilitate multi-user collaboration. Also facilitating collaboration are archival functionalities that make it possible to review previous work, and search through older writings and annotations. The system addresses many writing surfaces including whiteboards, blackboards, glass, paper and other tangible surfaces.

Abstract: The description provides, inter alia, recombinant microorganisms, engineered metabolic pathways, chemical catalysts, and products produced through the use of the described methods and materials. The products produced include functionalized alpha substituted C4 dicarboxylic acids and functionalized acrylic acids and salts, esters and lactones thereof.

Abstract: A chemical having the formula (S) 2-amino-6-hydroxypimelate. (S)-2-amino-6-hydroxypimelate can be made using a method comprising culturing a cell comprising an exogenous nucleic acid sequence encoding an enzyme that catalyzes the substrate to product conversion of (S)-2-amino-6-oxopimelate to (S)-2-amino-6-hydroxypimelate and separating the (S)-2-amino-6-hydroxypimelate. The cell may be a recombinant microorganism for producing aminocaproic acid or hexamethylenediamine from (S)-2-amino-6-hydroxypimelate comprising at least one exogenous nucleic acid sequence that expresses at least one polypeptide with substrate preference for homolysine, and amino acid decarboxylase with substrate preference for alpha-aminopimelate.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an advertisement is matched to subject matter in a portion of rich media content, such as a digital video, Flash™ animation, etc. For example, during the playing of rich media content, it may be determined by audio recognition techniques that the content's subject matter matches or correlates with an advertisement. Rendering preferences associated with the advertisement are then determined. The rendering preferences may be used to determine how the advertisement should be rendered (i.e., displayed in association with the content). The advertisement is then served to a device. The advertisement is served such that it can be rendered relative to a time that the portion of media is being displayed on the device.

Abstract: Recombinant microorganisms comprising at least one exogenous nucleic acid sequence and capable of producing adipate semialdehyde are provided. Adipate semialdehyde may be produced in a synthesis pathway utilizing a single thiolase reaction. Adipate semialdehyde may also be produced from intermediates consisting of alpha, omega difunctional aliphatic organic molecules. Methods of using recombinant microorganisms to produce 6-aminocaproic acid, adipic acid, hexamethylenediamine and 1.6-hexanediol are also provided.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to methods for converting homocitric acid to adipic acid, and more particularly to methods of using metal catalysts to catalyze the conversion of homocitric acid to adipic acid.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an advertisement is matched to subject matter in a portion of rich media content, such as a digital video, Flash™ animation, etc. For example, during the playing of rich media content, it may be determined by audio recognition techniques that the content's subject matter matches or correlates with an advertisement. Rendering preferences associated with the advertisement are then determined. The rendering preferences may be used to determine how the advertisement should be rendered (i.e., displayed in association with the content). The advertisement is then served to a device. The advertisement is served such that it can be rendered relative to a time that the portion of media is being displayed on the device.